One of the best books I read this year was a fantasy novel that wasn't a fantasy novel, called Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Written by Robin Sloan, it's about a secret society devoted to translating a mythical book about immortality, and features several long passages devoted to the awesomeness of dragons. But…

Critics have been buzzing about Robin Sloan's weird and alluring debut novel, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, a bizarre mystery with lots of fantastical elements. It's hard to describe, but once you start reading you may not be able to stop. Also, as an added bonus, the cover glows in the dark. We've got the first…